Popular Movie Quotes Used in Daily Conversation [Updated]

Famous quotes from Western movies include "May the force be with you" from Star Wars and "I'll be back" from The Terminator. These lines are so famous that you can hear them in casual English conversations and even in other films and TV shows.

But these are only two examples. This time, we'll introduce some other well-known lines and show how they are used in everyday life.

"There’s no place like home."

Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939)

When a girl named Dorothy finds herself in a strange land, she joins a group of new friends to find a wizard who can help her return home. The wizard tells her to repeat this phrase in order to gain her wish.

These days, this quote is often said by people who have been traveling or who have spent a long time away from home.

• I had a great trip overseas, but there's no place like home!

"You’re gonna need a bigger boat."

Movie: Jaws (1975)

When Chief Brody first sees the shark he's been hunting, he realizes it's much bigger than he imagined. In fact, it's so big that even if he could catch it, it would be impossible to put on the boat.

People say this quote now when they're in a situation that is more difficult than they anticipated.

“You talking to me?”

Movie: Taxi Driver (1976)

Travis, the main character of the film, says this famous line in front of a mirror as practice for a real situation. It basically means "What did you say?" or "Excuse me?" However, the tone is aggressive and the nuance is closer to "Do you want to fight?"

People say this quote to provoke — or get a reaction from — someone. Be careful saying this because it could possibly result in a fight!

"You can’t handle the truth."

Movie: A Few Good Men (1992)

This line appears in a tense courtroom scene between a lawyer named Kaffee and Colonel Jessep, a powerful officer in the US military. When Kaffee demands the truth about the death of a soldier, Jessep responds with this phrase in a very firm voice.

In the film, this quote refers to information that the listener is not prepared to hear or accept. In casual conversations, it's mostly used in a joking way to tease friends with something they want to know.

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Movie: The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather is the first in a series of films about a family in the Italian mafia living in America.

Don Corleone, the leader of the family, says this line when he decides to help his godson Johnny get a job in a Hollywood film. Although he doesn't say it directly, the nuance is that the film's boss will be hurt if he doesn't hire Johnny.

This quote basically means "I won't let them say 'No.'" So people often say this when they are very confident that they will get what they want in a negotiation.

In this case, the offer was so good that Clea had to accept it.

• The bully told Joey to give him his money or get beaten up. It was an offer Joey couldn't refuse.

*To "beat up" means "to attack or hurt someone."

Unlike the first example, this usage of the phrase is a threat of punishment if someone does not do a certain thing.

"Houston, we have a problem."

Movie: Apollo 13 (1995)

This line is different from the others on this list because it's based on a real event. It comes from a radio communication between two astronauts and NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas, during the spacecraft Apollo 13's flight in 1970.

What the astronauts actually said, however, was a little different: "OK, Houston, we've had a problem here."

People say this quote when they suddenly realize that they're in a difficult situation.

“As if!”

Movie: Clueless (1995)

Clueless takes place in southern California, but it made this short quote famous throughout the US.

When Cher yells "As if" after a male student suddenly hugs her, it means "Absolutely not!" or "You must be joking!" It's used in daily conversations with the same meaning, like in the following example:

Related article: "No way, José!" Other Ways to Say "No"

"Say 'Hello' to my little friend!"

Movie: Scarface (1983)

This line is yelled by Tony Montana, the main character in the classic gangster movie Scarface.

Part of the reason this line is memorable is because the "friend" is a machine gun — and it's not little at all!

This quote is often said as a joke when revealing weapons or dangerous objects. For example, someone playing a video game may say it when using a powerful new item against their rivals.

But it can also be used when revealing something you're proud of, like in the following example:

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”

Movie: Cool Hand Luke (1967)

In the film, a cruel police captain says this line when he tries to demonstrate his power over a prisoner who does not want to obey. 

You can say it yourself when you're arguing with someone or having difficulty agreeing with them. Be careful not to use it in a business or formal situation!

• We just can't agree on anything! What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

“Elementary, my dear Watson.”

Movie: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

Sherlock Holmes, a character from both novels and films, is known for being a very intelligent detective. When his assistant, Dr. Watson, asks him a question, he often replies with this phrase, which means "The answer is simple."

Similarly, English speakers might say this line when answering questions they feel are easy. It has a slightly arrogant feeling, but it's mostly said as a joke among friends.

“I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”

Movie: Apocalypse Now (1979)

This film takes place during the Vietnam War, and Lieutenant Kilgore says this line as napalm — a substance used in bombs — explodes in the distance.

Kilgore's enjoyment of such a hard and dangerous environment made this line and scene very memorable. After all, people normally prefer the smell of coffee in the morning!

This quote is used today in a variety of situations, with "napalm" switched for something that shows a person's sarcasm or their enthusiasm for something.

For example, someone waking up to the smell of burning bread in the kitchen might say this:

• Ahh, I love the smell of burnt toast in the morning!

Obviously, this is a sarcastic thing to say, since the "burnt" smell is not something people usually enjoy!

On the other hand, someone who loves working on cars might say:

• I love the smell of motor oil in the morning!

Wrap-Up

Using famous movie quotes in your casual conversations is a great way to sound more like a native speaker. This is because it doesn't just show understanding of language, it also shows understanding of culture.

Here are a few more movie-related articles from Engoo you may enjoy:

• How to Talk About Movies in English
• What Do Movie Ratings Mean? (G, PG, R, etc.)
• 9 Common English Expressions from Pop Culture

Written by Sana, adapted by David

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• quotes